Toy theater



E. BELDEN TOY THEATER April 14, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed NOV. 4, 1950g ikeu Ze/aen/ &4, Q. W

ATTORNEY E. BELDEN TOY THEATER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1950vzlnlrlrlllAr/r INVENTOR filzea Zi /dew ATTORN Y Patented Apr. 14, 1953UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY THEATER Eileen Belden, Lynbrook," Y I: UApplication November 4, wastrel 1%.1941'54- The present inventionrelates to a use ent and educational devices for, entertaining chil ren,and, more particularly, relates to a tov simulating a stagesetting orthe screen of a television set.

The present invention is primarily con erned with a, toy of theforegoing character wherein illustrations are successivelydisplayed andappropriatenarration, music and/or sound effects accompany eachillustration- Since such a toy is intended forsmall children, it ishighly important that the toy be readily operated without the exerciseof any high degree of skill. While this offhand would, suggest that sucha toy should embody automatic apparatus wherein the operating elementsare contained in a unitary structure and are under the control of asingle switch, such apparatus would be quite costly and would hardly bea toy that could be manufactured to sell at a price which parents ingeneral could readily afford. It is thus highly important that a toy ofthis character be relatively inexpensive to make it available to manychildren.

Since small phonographs for playing records of rhymes or storiesintended to amuse small children and at the same time serving to teachthe children to sing, recite or speak nowadays can be procured at asmall cost, such phonographs are so popular that most every family inwhich there are small children has one in the household.

Accordingly an object of the present invention is to provide a toy ofthe character indicated herein which is suitable for use in conjunctionwith such a phonograph.

Another object is to provide such a toy which is simple and economicalin construction and is readily assembled and operated by small children.

A further object is to provide such a toy which can be convenientlyarranged to form a neat and compact package suitable for shipment andstorage.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of theillustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated inthe appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein willoccur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention inpractice.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects areaccomplished by providing a toy of the foregoing character whichgenerally comprises a box formed in two sections, one section beingformed with an opening and simulating a stage setting or televisionscreen and the other section carrying mechanism for advancingillustrations to be displayed across the opening, and a driving meansfor operatively connecting the mechanism with a phonograph.

7 Claims. (CI. 46-13) A preferred embodiment of the invention'has beenchosenfor purposes of illustration andlde scription as is shown in theaccom anying draw ing, forming a part ofthe specification, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of'a toy in accordance with the inventionillustrating the same as assembled to provide a unitary package adaptedfor shipment and storage, portions being broken away to illustratedetails thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view partly in section illustrating the toyas assembledfor use with a phonograph.

Fig. 3 is a reduced sectional view taken substantially along the line3-'3.on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on Fig.2 illustrating a detail of the driving connection. i H

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Fig. 1thereof, there is shown a package which embodies the toy in accordancewith the present invention, as arranged for shipment and storage. Thispackage essentially comprises a generally fiat rectangular box having atop section l0 and a bottom section II fitted into the top section.Preferablyfthesesections are constructed of some relatively inexpensivematerial such as cardboard or the like. The top section It] comprises atop wall or cover portion I 2, which serves as the 'front panel when thetoy is assembled for use (Figs. 2 and 3), a side wall 14 serving as abase for supporting the box section with the panel in'upright position,a side wall l5 opposite the wall 14, and end wallslfi connecting thewalls [4 and I5. i

The wall l2, v serving as the front panel, formed with 'a generallyrectangular opening I! surrounded by a decorative frame l9 to enhancethe front panel. If desired, circular formations 20 may be providedbeneath the opening I! to simulate the control knobs ofa television set.

The bottom section comprisesa stepped bottom wall having'two portions 2|and 22, the por tion 2| extending outwardly beyond the portion 22 forthe purpose to be made apparent herein after; and four side W311SZ4,125,26 and 21 serving to support the bottom section in an inverted position(Fig. 3) with the portions 2| and-22 substantially horizontallydisposed... I a I When the top and bottom box sections are as sembled asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, the wall 26 engages the rear face of the wallI2, portions of the walls 24 and 25 adjacent the wall 26 fit between thewalls 16, and the free edgeof the wallZB and portions of the freejedgesof the walls 24 and 25 rest onthe wall ,wherebythebbttbm sec tionservesto retain the top section in" upright position, as shown. The wallportion 22 is thereby partially disposed within the upper box sectionwell below the opening l1; and the box sections are arranged to providean attractive and sturdy construction; simulating a stage setting ortelevision set, adapted for use with the mechanism for displayingillustrations or the like to be viewed through the opening H.

In accordance with the invention, it is contemplated to advanceillustrations across the opening H to display the same therethrough.These illustrations are provided on a sheet or web 30 having foldablyconnected sections 3|, the lower edges of which are supported on thewall portion 22.

The mechanism for advancing the'sheet 30 preferably comprises a driveroller 32. and an idler roller 34 arranged to respectively engage theback and front surfaces of the sheet 30.

As illustrated herein, the idler roller 34 is provided with a shaft 35which is rotatably mounted on an arm. 36 (Fig. 2) between the endsthereof and which shaft extends through a slot 31 formed in the wallportion 22. One end of the arm 36 is pivotally connected to the wallportion 22 at 39, and the other end of the arm has connected thereto aresilient element 40, such as a small .spring or rubber band, serving tourge the roller 34 towards the roller 32 and retain the sheet 30 indriving engagement therebetween.

The roller 32 is provided with a friction surface 4l, formed of rubberor the like, and is rotatably supported on the wall portion 22 by oneend of a shaft 42 extending through an aperture jin'this'wall portion.The other end of the shaft 42 is rotatably supported in an apertureformed in a bracket member 44 constructed of cardboard or the like andconnected by tabs 45 in slots formed in the wall portion 22. A frictionwheel 46. is supported by the bracket member 44 and is connected withthe shaft 42 to effect rotation thereof. This wheel is provided with ahorizontal flange which supports a rubber ring 41.

In. order to effect rotation of the wheel 46, the shaft 42, and theroller 32 in a simple and practical manner, as for example by utilizinga record player or phonograph 50 of the rotating record supportingplatform type, as shown, a drive connection is provided which comprisesan elongated shaft having one end. rotatably supported by the bracketmember 44 and carrying a wheel 52 in driving engagement with the ring41, a sleeve 54 rotatably supported in an aperture formed in the wall2;! and in driving connection with the other end of the shaft 5|, andshaft 55 having one end .ll'l' driving connection with the sleeve andadapted to" be driven-by the phonograph, as about to be "described. s

As shown more particularly in Fig. 4, the sleeve 54 has a cylindricalouter surface and a polygonal 'bore, and the shafts 5| and 55 havepolygonal end sections 56 and 51 removably fitted into the bore and arethereby coupled for rotation.

The shaft 55 is adapted to be driven by a friction wheel 59 at the endopposite the end coupled to the shaft 5|, and the wheel in turn isdriven by the upper surface of a record rotated by the platform of thephonograph. Thewheel 59 is retained in driving engagement with therecord by an inverted U-shaped bracket 60 having on one leg thereof alug 6| formed with an aperture through which the record centeringspindle extends; and having in theother leg thereof anaperturethroughwhich the shaft 55 extends. As

4 shown, the wheel 59 is disposed between the legs of the bracket 60.

If desired, interchangeable removably mounted scenery may be providedfor the wings of the simulated stage setting to further enhance itsappearance. Such scenery may be provided on sheets 62 connected to theend walls I6 by tabs 64 on the sheets 62 extending through slots 65 inthe walls l6.

Also, in order to retain the web 30 in'upright position while beingadvanced across the wall portion 22, the wall [5 may be provided with afoldably connected section 66 formed with a flange 6! extending in backof the web (Fig. 3). This flange cooperates with the free edges of thewalls, l6. to, provide a guideway for the upper edge of the web.

With the apparatus assembled as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a phonographrecord is selected for which a web 30 has been provided with the toyhaving appropriate illustrations thereon. The leading end of the web isinserted between the rollers 32 and 34 and the phonograph is started.For example, if a story is narrated, sections of the web aresuccessively displayed which illustrate the action taking place in thestory.

In order to ship and store the apparatus, the Webs 30 supplied, the wingscenery sheets 52, the coupling-54, the shaft 55, and the bracket 60.are placed in the lower box section I l and the upper box section I6 ispositioned to retain these .elements therein. Byproviding the bottom ofthe box section H with stepped portions the rollers 32 and 34 do notprotrude beyond the effective bottom portions 2|. If desired, the box asshown in Fig. 1, may be wrapped in transparent material, such ascellophane or the like, to fully enclose the same and provide forconvenient handling thereof during shipment or while on. display.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides a toy for displaying illustrations in conjunctionwith the playing of a phonograph. The toy comprises apparatus which issimple and economical in construction, is readily assembled and takenapart, and is sufiiciently rugged to withstand such rough usage to whichit may normally be subjected. The toy affords considerable amusement tosmall children and because of its relatively low cost, it is availableto many children.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative andnot in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Toy apparatus of the class described comprising a structuresimulating a stage setting having an opening and a platform portion inback of said opening, feed rollers on said platform portion foradvancing a sheet to be viewed through said opening, drive means forsaid feed rollers, said drive means including shaft means; a frictionwheel on said shaft means for engaging a record on a platform typerecord player, and a bracket for rotatably mounting said shaft meanshaving an extension formed with an aperture for receiving a spindle ofthe record player.

2. Toy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shaft means includea shaft, a second shaft, each of said shafts having a polygonal end, acoupling sleeve having a polygonal bore for removably connecting thepolygonal ends of said shafts, and a friction wheel on said second shaftfor engaging a phonograph record.

3. Toy apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of generallyrectangular box sections, one of said box sections being formed with anopening and being adapted to be placed in upright position to arrangesaid opening in a vertical plane, said other box section being adaptedto be inverted and placed partially within said first box section tomaintain the latter in upright position and to provide a platformportion in back of said opening, said platform portion being formed withstepped sections in which the lowermost section is inserted within saidfirst box section, a pair of feed rollers on said lowermost section foradvancing a sheet to be viewed through said opening, and drive means forone of said feed rollers mounted inside of said second box section.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said drive means includeshaft means mounted for rotation in a wall of said second box sectionand extending therethrough, and a friction wheel on said shaft meansexteriorly of said second box section for engaging a phonograph record.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said drive means includeshaft means mounted for rotation in a wall of said secong box sectionand extending therethrough, and a friction wheel on said shaft meansexteriorly of said second box section for engaging a phonograph record,said shaft means being formed in two shaft sections with polygonal endsand a coupling member being mounted for rotation in said box sectionwall having a polygonal bore for removably interconnecting the polygonalends of said shaft sections.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first box section hasguide means at the top wall thereof for assisting the support of saidsheet advanced by said feed rollers.

7. Toy apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of generallyrectangular box sections, one of said box sections being formed with anopening and being adapted to be placed in upright position to arrangesaid opening in a vertical plane, said other box section being adaptedto be inverted and placed partially Within said first box section tomaintain the latter in upright position and to provide a platformportion in back of said opening, a pair of feed rollers on said secondbox section for advancing a sheet to be viewed through said opening, oneof said feed rollers having a friction surface and the other of saidfeed rollers being an idler, means for movably supporting said idler,resilient means for urging said idler toward said friction surface ofthe other roller, drive means for said feed roller mounted inside ofsaid second box section, said drive means including a bracket memberwithin said second box section, a shaft rotatable with said first feedroller and a wheel on said shaft supported by said bracket member, and asecond shaft rotatably supported by said bracket member carrying a wheelin driving engagement with said first wheel.

EILEEN BELDEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,107,757 Catrevas Aug. 18,. 1914 1,265,897 Fawcett May 14,1918 1,332,253 Holloway Mar. 2, 1920 1,484,965 Ritter Feb. 26, 19241,995,463 Young Mar. 26, 1935 2,228,610 Reid Jan. 14, 1941 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 587,085 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1947

